Government to go ahead with 27% reservation

The United Progressive Alliance coordination committee and the Left parties have decided to implement the proposal to introduce 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in higher educational institutions.

"The percentage of reservation for OBCs will be fixed at 27 per cent. Legislation for this purpose will be brought in Parliament in the monsoon session," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after a three-hour meeting on Tuesday night.

Mukherjee said that after the law is passed by Parliament, reservation for OBCs will be implemented in central education institutions from the academic session commencing from June 2007.

The minister added that keeping in view the interests of all sections of the students community and to meet their aspirations for opportunities for higher education, the number of seats in educational institutions under the purview of the central government will be increased.

A resolution this effect was adopted at the meeting of the UPA Coordination Committee and Left parties.

An Oversight Committee will be constituted to draw up a time-bound roadmap for implementing these decisions, the defence minister said, adding that smaller groups consisting of deans, directors and vice chancellors of the institutions concerned will be set up to work out details for each class of institutions.

The Oversight Committee will put together the recommendations of these groups and submit a comprehensive report by August 31 this year.

Mukherjee said the UPA Coordination Committee and Left parties resolved that the Centre will implement the 93rd Amendment to the Constitution, providing for reservations in educational institutions, in letter and spirit.